The Undream

Part 4

Inu Yasha became increasingly agitated as they headed on through the mountains. The hanyou's nose was constantly checking the air for a certain wolf youkai's scent. His ears swiveled at any sound that wasn't footsteps from the others in the group.

Klonoa wanted to learn more about this Kouga person that the half demon didn't quite take a liking to, but knew that pressing the matter would probably make matters worse. Instead, he decided to take in the sights of this world that was so different from his own. So many sights, smells, and sounds, all new to him, kept the long walk from becoming tedious. The Dream Traveler could not help but smile at the word game Shippo and Kagome were playing.

"I spy…" Kagome began.

"…with my little eye…" Shippo continued, a broad grin on his face.

"…something that starts with the letter…C!"

"Oo! Oo! I know! A cat! Our friend Klonoa's a cat!" The three of them laughed.

"Can I try one?" Klonoa smiled.

"Sure!" Kagome paused for a moment to think. Her gaze wandered to Sango and Miroku, who were walking ahead of them. Shippo seemed to get an idea from the monk and the exterminator.

"I got one!" the fox giggled. "I spy, with my little eye, something that starts with…K!"

Just then, Miroku chose that moment to give Sango's rear a tweak, earning a hard slap across the cheek.

"How about… Ka-POW?" Klonoa sweatdropped, the faintest hint of an amused smirk emerging.

"Wahoo! That was a good one!" Huepow's voice echoed from within the ring. Shippo and Kagome rocked with laughter, much to Inu Yasha's irritation.

"Will you keep it down?" he grumbled. "It's bad enough we have to walk through that wimpy wolf's territory. The last thing I need is a headache from your stupid games!"

"Oh, cut it out, Inu Yasha!" Kagome punched him lightly in the shoulder. "A little fun never killed anyone…at least not a word game."

"Oh sure!" Inu Yasha's tone turned downright sarcastic. "It's all fun and games until somebody gets IMPALED OR EATEN!! Keh!"

"Spoil sport." Kagome grumbled. Inu Yasha just feh'ed.

They continued walking on, Inu Yasha ever vigilant of the group's surroundings. Everyone suddenly froze when Inu Yasha paused and growled, the sound low in his throat.

"What is it, Inu Yasha?" Miroku tightened his grip on his shakujo.

"Is it a demon?" Sango shifted the Hiraikotsu off of her shoulders.

"I smell wolf," the hanyou replied in a low, aggressive tone. "And I don't mean just Kouga…"

"His whole pack's out here?" Shippo clung to Kagome with a vice-like grip, looking all around them for signs of danger.

"No, not that many," Inu Yasha's ears swiveled anxiously. "But enough of them to give us trouble…"

"Inu Yasha!" Kagome suddenly piped up. "I sense a Shikon shard-it's coming this way! And fast!"

"SHIT!" Inu Yasha barked, promptly scooping up Kagome into his arms. "We'll have to make a run for it!"

And they were gone, without even giving the others a chance to protest. Something was wrong, they could all sense it. It was not like Inu Yasha to take off with Kagome like that.

"W-What do we do?" Klonoa panicked.

"Hold them off, then try to catch up with Inu Yasha." was Miroku's reply.

In the distance came the howl of a fast approaching whirlwind, surrounded by the dust and dirt it kicked up. It towered before them before vanishing suddenly, leaving an agitated Kouga in its wake.

"Eh?" the wolf puzzled when he saw only the monk, the taijiya, and a strange looking youkai. "Where are dog-turd and Kagome? I bet the bastard took off as soon as he heard me coming!"

Kouga reared back to kick up more dust when Sango barred his path. The wolf growled, but the taijiya was not deterred.

"Out of the way, woman!" he glared.

"Not until you tell me what you want with Kagome this time." Sango replied.

"What business is it of yours? She's my woman, she happens to be traveling through my turf, it's only right that I check up on her."

"I highly doubt that that's all that you came for."

"Heh! What would a human like you know?"

"Plenty considering I'm a professional youkai taijiya. Now, what is it about you showing up this time that's got Inu Yasha more jumpy than usual?"

"I am curious as well." Miroku joined in. "Have you obtained some new power or another Shikon shard? Inu Yasha is normally more than willing to bicker with you."

"I'd love to tell ya, but..." Kouga suddenly jumped far over them and landed some distance down the path Inu Yasha had taken. "I've got someplace to be!"And with that, he sped off.

"Wait!" Sango yelled, but the wolf was gone. As she broke into a run, five snarling wolves barred her path, each one baring its teeth.

"Out of my way!" she swung the giant weapon widely, striking one wolf and scattering the others momentarily. Miroku blocked two that tried pouncing on him, then pushed them back with the shakujo. Klonoa was surrounded by three wolves who bore their sharp teeth murderously. The dream traveler muttered a silent prayer under his breath and took aim with the ring. It caught hold of a wolf, startling a yelp out of it, and caused it to float above him.

"This creature must be as heavy as I am, if not lighter" he mused.

The one behind him leapt in for the kill, but Klonoa managed to double-jump out of the way, slamming the captured wolf into the attacker below. Without wasting a second, Klonoa snatched up the third one, swung it around, then let it fly into a nearby tree. All three wolves groaned and passed out.

"Let's go catch up to Inu Yasha and Kagome." called Miroku. "I have a feeling that there's more going on here than we know."

Far ahead of the others, Inu Yasha was running at top speed with Kagome still in his grasp. A tuft of tawny fur poking out from the red and green blur was the only indication that Shippo had been dragged along for the ride.

But for all of Inu Yasha's speed, he was no match for the whirlwind that was Kouga. The wolf youkai caught up with them quickly, leaping right in front of Inu Yasha in a twisting show of expertise.

"Oy, dog-turd!" Kouga's tail flicked in an arrogant manner. "Running through my territory without even saying hi? I'm offended!"

"Don't be too offended yet, wimpy wolf." Inu Yasha put Kagome down and cracked his knuckles. "I haven't even gotten my claws into you yet!"

"Then what are you waiting for?" Kouga egged the hanyou on, his cocky smirk letting his fangs show. "an invitation?"

"If you INSIST!" Inu Yasha leapt at the wolf with all ten claws slashing downwards. Kouga dodged the attack easily, but had to maneuver carefully to stay clear of Inu Yasha's now-drawn Tetsusaiga. The wolf knew better than to try taking any of Inu Yasha's attacks head-on, but had to silently admit that the half breed was not all that bad of a fighter. Not that Kouga would ever admit that to anyone aloud. A little carelessness earned Kouga a light scratch across his lower cheek, but that was nothing to worry about with the two Shikon shards in his legs to quickly mend that.

The two youkai punched, kicked and slashed at one another repeatedly, slowly moving further and further away from Kagome and Shippo. What the onlookers failed to notice was the pair of eyes watching them from the shrubbery behind them. Shippo hopped down out of Kagome's arms and shook his little fist at the brawlers.

"That stupid Inu Yasha!" the fox hissed. "I don't know who's the bigger idiot! Inu Yasha for being jealous or Kouga for thinking you like---"

SMACK!

A rock suddenly struck Shippo in the back of the head, rendering him unconscious.

"Shippo!" Kagome moved to pick the little boy up when she felt a hand and something cold and metallic (but not sharp) pressing into her back. She gasped and tried to scream, only to have the metallic nudge her sharply.

"Be quiet and you won't get hurt." said a low, serious, and masculine voice behind her. "Go where I lead you and everything will go smoothly."

"Who are you?" Kagome demanded, keeping her voice down.

"That's not important right now." her captor responded. "Move."

In a daring, yet still cooperative move, Kagome glanced over her shoulder to get a good look at who was threatening her. Her stomach lumped in her throat at the sight of a wolf, half her height, wearing a red jacket, black pants, and black boots with red straps. But his strange appearance didn't compare to the weapons being used to hold her hostage-a rather large, threatening pair of pistols!

Sorry for the lack of updates, but it's been hard getting inspiration for this story, what with Klonoa not being as popular as the GTA or Final Fantasy games. It's a shame really. The only things that got the inspirational juices flowing again were some Klonoa music (I have the Lunatea's Veil soundtrack) and a very devoted fan of Klonoa who direly begged me to continue the tale. It's also a shame that there is no Klonoa section on fanfiction.net. Please, write to the staff and tell them that a Klonoa fanfiction section is direly needed! Spread the word! Klonoa fans unite!

As usual---Like it? Hate it? Tell me!